LIVERPOOL FC manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that whilst he has been brought into the club long-term, he has to show improvements on a yearly basis and produce short-term results.
The Reds boss, who was speaking to Yahoo, also hailed this season as possibly Steven Gerrard’s best in terms of Premier League consistency, heaped praise on Jamie Carragher’s character and that of ‘ world class warrior’ Luis Suarez, who he believes is the outstanding candidate to win the PFA Player of the Year award.
Is Luis Suarez the most talented player you have ever worked with?
I’ve been fortunate enough to work with lots of really good players so it would be disrespectful to single out the best. What I am sure of though, is his warrior spirit and I love his humility, work rate, attitude to training and his desire to be a winner.
He has a real determination and commitment to do well for Liverpool and that side of his game certainly puts him up there with the very best I’ve worked with. He is definitely one of the most naturally talented and mentally strong players I have ever worked with.
Has he impressed enough to win the PFA player of the year award and do you think he will?
He will certainly be in the reckoning. His league goals alone should put him in with a great shout but you also need to look at his consistency throughout the season that makes him arguably the best player.
There are other contenders of course; players like Gareth Bale have been outstanding for Tottenham for example, but I think that Luis’ consistency and the impact he has had for us this season means that he would be my candidate to win.
Suarez isn’t always popular with opposing players and fans, is that something he can channel and turn into a positive?
I know what it was like when I faced him as an opposing manager, I always viewed him as a pest around the penalty area and you know that players like that usually have the quality to score at any give time. When you know him as a person and as a man like we do here, you can see why so many people love him.
It’s not his job to be liked, he’ll be respected because he’s a top football player and it won’t concern him too much if people don’t like him. He is a player who has great humility, I see the guy everyday and I’ve worked with hundreds of junior and senior players and he is one of the most likable, most humble people I’ve come across.
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He is also a multi-talented footballer who has shown that he is at a world class level now. The likability of any player is always up for debate, and people will always use their own moral compass to judge Luis Suarez, but that’s not something I tend to focus on. I concentrate on what he is like with me on a day-to-day basis and he is a great man.
Could you argue that this has been Steve Gerrard’s best in terms of consistency and leadership?
It’s been his best season in relation to the number of games he’s played – he has played every minute of every game for us this season, and as a leader of the team he has been immense. It has been a real privilege to work with someone of that calibre and quality. Again, the mark of the man is that he is a very humble guy. This season he has scored goals, created chances, is still an international captain and at 32 still has the hunger, drive and determination to be better. He’s had an outstanding season and I’m sure he’ll continue to get better over the coming seasons.
Jamie Carragher retires at the end of the season, how big a loss will he be not only on the paying side but also in the dressing room?
He’ll be a big loss because of the length of time he has been at the club. It’s very difficult to say that a player is irreplaceable because the nature of football means that someone always steps in to take the shirt and provides different elements to your team.
I will miss Jamie’s drive and determination that he has shown since I’ve been here, and I know that is something he has been doing all his life. We’re going to miss his character but that’s our job, as a club, to look to try and replace him. Jamie will continue to perform until the end of the season with the same drive and determination he has displayed through his entire career, even at 35-years-old he is still performing at the very top level.
How important is the redevelopment of Anfield to the clubs future ability to compete financially?
We have two main objectives; one is to arrive into the top four and the second is the redevelopment of Anfield. That will make us a bigger club financially and help us to compete more; we have to keep building towards that.
The clubs that are competing in the Champions League have a big advantage financially, an extra forty million pounds a year and more. That’s a huge advantage in respect of bringing in new players and we have to keep aiming for that goal. If we can do that by the redevelopment of Anfield, aligned with top four football, we will be in a great position as a club.
You seem to be taking a long term approach to this job. Can you imagine yourself being here in ten years and where do you imagine Liverpool being by then?
I was asked to come in and build the club over the long term. I’m fully aware however, in the short term you need to produce results. Of course this is a club I would love to be at for a long period of time because it is one of the few institutions in football.
This is very much a destination for me as a manager but I have got to show improvements in the club on a yearly basis. Of course I would love to be here long term, but obviously you have to take care of the short term and show that development. I think we have showed that progression this year and I hope we can make more strides next year and keep the club moving forward.
For more insight from Brendan Rodgers and other leading managers plus exclusive Premier League highlights go to www.yahoo.co.uk/sport
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Transfer market again is like any other but even bigger for Rodgers and the club.
The players that are clearly not good enough must be shipped out within early part of the summer and trim even more wages form the bill and free up spaces for much better quality.
We must get out players that are never used and or never playing and have been out on long loan deals.
Wilson – (contract ends thank god)
Spearing – (like the guy but he is not ever going to give Liverpool enough, championship at best he is)
Carroll – (no thanks, we are a footballing team and while Andy is not a bad player id rather take the cash and bring in better quicker front man, also his wages are stupid for his ability, get them off the bill)
Pacheco – (cant stay around out of loan deals here there and everywhere, he has to go, we will not get a fee if at all, but he is not good enough and its time to move him on)
Assiadi – looked OK at first but reports that he doesn’t train hard and is to lightweight, for me id sell him as we still would get back close to what we paid for him?)
Shelvey – sorry but i don’t like this guy, to slow, to poor in the tackle, lacks fitness, generally think he is big time over rated and this is not charlton! sell him for around 5 mill and move him out)
Skrtel – something has clearly gone on, is a poor player not at all but his attitude may be in question and we don’t want that at Liverpool, we need better if we are to move into the top 4 and champions league, Carragher has almost been faultless at times and with Jamie in the team we have a leader, Skrtel has never shown he is a leader and for me id cash in to the highest payer and get his high wages gone and use the money for better.
Coates – just because he is mates with Suarez means nothing to me, he is either going to play cup games and get games outside the prem league or he goes for good, no more silly loans either, he is either going to stay and be a squad player or we use the 5 million or so to help fund another buy.
Borini – never rated him much o know its hard to judge as he has mad luck with injuries and we need simply need him fit but have we got the power and player to have that in the team, i would rather cash in and start again, for me if a team offered around 8- 9 million id snap your hand off, sell him and buy a better link player up top.
Yearly improvements ???
Well the first season is an epic fail on that score
We have gone backwards from a team who was competing for trophies and beating all the top sides regularly – to a team out of all competitons by February
And yet we have a solid chance to finish two and a slim chance of finishing three positions higher in the table.
Whooopie .
It’s been flipping terrible season
were still gonna end up roughly 15 points better off than last season , considering the start we had they”ve done well , sturridge an coutinho have made a big difference , since december there has definately been signs of real progress in the team only man utd an spurs have took more points than us since the beginning of november , im still not convinced by rodgers but there is no doubting were getting better all the time an were playing some lovely football , think next season will be time to start judging the manager !!!!
Disastrous season . Disastrous manager .he doesnt have a clue .we are not getting better .more mediocrity next season
For all his bluster and bull , BR has failed to deliver. Only one of his 7 signings looks the real deal ( coutinho).
His inability to win games against the good sides is staggering and shows his tactical failings.
BR won’t improve either, he is a manager set in his ways , he doesnt adapt ,he doesn’t change , he doesn’t even have a plan B. We need a proper manager ASAP
liverbaby,dave,ben you are a bogus reds go support some other team!!
the team needs real supporters not plastic crap like you and your likes…
Plan B? do stoke start playing tiki taka when their plan A doesnt work? and can you please enlighten me about barcelonas or madrids or uniteds plan B?
you don’t even have the slightest clue about football…i have seen liverpool play 5 different formations and tactics this season…thats 5 different plans, a,b,c,d,e….or whatever you want to call it…
his buys…sturridge 5 goals 3 assists in 7 games , wow you really are a plastic fan,because he has been brilliant considering the little injurys which has stopped his momentum a bit,
coutinho amazing…judging Yesil as one of the first teams buys i see, when he was cleary bought to be in the U21 for 2 years..
Borini and allen have shown glimpses but have been injured, how can you play to your top form when you are injured????even messi couldnt score 1 single goal if he is injured! Allen played with an injury for 5 months yet he gets slated, the ones deserve slating is ‘fans’ like you who make me embaressed to call you a fellow red…
sterling,suso,wisdom,coady all have played this season, the youngest team in the league and you guys expect the world, i tell you chevski or man-shitty is the team for you..
Brendan has done a good job with what he had had available…the summer transfer window was FSGs fault, failing to buy dempsey and sigurdson…
we got coutinho and sturridge instead in jan. and since both have been in the team, liverpool is 3rd in the premier league table, no progress??? you need to give your head a wobble fool…or get glaces…
why is my comment awaiting moderation>????
s0 these so called fans can slate the manager and the players but i can’t slate them a little bit with a reality check?
15 pts and 2-3 positions higher isn’t improvement… Hmmm, sounds like math or logic isn’t a strong suit here.